(A/N: Yeah, I live.)
Kevin's pov
Well, today sure feels different.
That was the thought in my mind as I laid in bed playing CoD Mobile WW2. Unable to sleep, I resisted the urge for a booty call. Or would it be a booty text? The term is new to me. I have enough pride about me that I can discipline myself from coming off as desperate. I'm not some dog in heat.
I wasn't exactly excited about the tournament… but I was anticipating it enough that it kept me awake. It was weird. Maybe I just wanted a day off but got work is wanting to have a tournament so it's a bit of a break but it's not?
Regardless I got up to grab some breakfast from the fridge. Maybe I'd cook something for myself or for others. Maybe a Wacky Cake from the 40's or Beef Stroganoff from the late 1890's. I'd have to go to the store on that last one though. If I was in a mood for sweets I'd try the old 1860's Baked Alaska. I was in a 17th century fondue mood however as I thought about it.
Then I saw the bottle of Jack and the two liter coke next to it. Chills washed over my body as memories flooded my mind. I let out a sad sigh and lost all appetite.
Instead, I took both bottles and emptied the coke's contents into one more Jack and Coke. Setting the mixed drink on a coaster in the living room I sat on the floor next to it. My eyes focused on where I found Cassandra's body when I arrived. Exhaling again, my breath shaky, I tinked the glass with the bottle of Jack and slammed the bottle in a toast of sorts.
I regarded the liquor in my hand afterwards and chuckled,
"How in the hell did you stay in business with this weak crap Jack Daniel's?"
"Maybe your taste buds are seared." A familiar, rough voice spoke evenly behind me.
I swear, if I didn't know better then Batman would have teleportation powers. He was here as Bruce Wayne today however, or well he wasn't in his costume. Or eh work uniform? Just a grey turtleneck and slacks.
Caught in the act, I glanced at the bottle and back at Batman before weakly excusing, "I use it for cooking. No alcohol consumption here. Really good with steak."
Not even acknowledging my meager answer he explained, "I was just doing a security check and prepping the gym. Alfred should be here later as well." He flicked his head to the cup of coke, "Think she'd want me to have that?"
I gave him a serious look as I regarded that.
"I think she'd be honored for you to have it."
I got up to hand him the glass and he took it with a rare smile, or smirk actually.
"Don't tell Alfred. Hell, he'll figure it out. Sometimes he's a better detective than me." He took a sip and regarded the drink before saying, "Have Terra go with you to get some groceries. Take the Titan card and some of the inter dimensional pockets that cyborg makes." His eyes met mine, "Be on the down low. No flying except across the ocean. The Navy keeps ships away for the most part."
"No powers and no talking to strangers."
"Got it."
"Get any action, call me."
"Alright."
—————
The trip went smoothly. Only somewhat fishy thing was a red headed man walking around with a "The End is Nigh" sign watching me. I think he knew I noticed as well.
When I returned everyone was in the gym that shared architectural similarities with Japanese dojos but this one wasn't modernized. No, it was probably 200-years in the future, and an underwater level so what little sunlight trickled in came from the large windows holding back a big ocean. To be frank it was beautiful.
"Heeeyyyy!" Arisia called out, "Over here!"
W-why is she calling me like that? People are going to think we're more than friends. Then they'd start rumors that we're sleeping together… and we did!
"Um, hey." I replied joining her and everyone else, "Who's the first fight in this tournament thing?"
"Orphan and Oracle." Batman said, still in his turtleneck but with a timer and whistle. "Hopefully they won't do what they normally do."
"What's that?"
"Talk while they fight."
"Who will I be fighting, comrade?" Leo asked.
Everyone was crowded around Batman and he seemed much more approachable today. Maybe it was because he left his "I-AM-VENGEANCE"-screaming suit at home. Everyone was in their battle gear as well so maybe that had an effect. They felt powerful and he felt normal.
Oracle preferred to use the bo staff while Orphan stood ready with her bat-tech bokken. They were equipped with all their gadgets and gear. A few moments passed before Batman blew his whistle.
Clacking of weapons began immediately.
"Seems Orphan has been practicing her Iaidō draw. I need to help her with a few iaijutsu techniques." Batman was taking notes on his phone via voice to type. He might have also wanted us to hear his critiques.
The fighting and footwork went around and around for about a minute with no climax. Batman frowned before getting up and blowing his whistle. He shouted,
"Hey! No talking while fighting! I don't want to see any more Shintaido! No moving meditation ok? Get ready."
"But sir," I pointed out more as a question, "they didn't say a word."
"Shintaido uses movements and fighting as a means of communication, healing and expression." He looked back out onto the two girls getting ready to fight again, "It's Orphan's first language."
I watched as Orphan assumed some sort of fencing stance, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath before the whistle. Once blown her eyes opened and she clicked on the electric switch on her sword. Oracle did the same but twisted her staff in half and extended the two sticks with a flick so that they were both 4ft long.
She twirled her sticks so fast through the air that we could HEAR it. Batman seemed to chuckle, saying to us and himself,
"Zulu stick fighting on a tahtib foundation? Still talking while you fight?"
{A/N: Tahtib (Egyptian Arabic: تحطيب, romanized: taḥṭīb) is the term for a traditional stick-fighting martial art originally named fan a'nazaha wa-tahtib ("the art of being straight and honest through the use of stick"). It has been a combative since ancient Egypt. The Zulu's fought a bitter war against the British in 1878-1879 despite their technological disadvantage.}
If she was talking, then Orphan felt like she was being challenged. She stepped up her footwork, and arched her attacks wider. Batman wondered,
"Why is she using taiho jutsu sword moves? Why are you holding back Orphan?"
(A/N: Taiho-jutsu (arresting art) is a term for martial arts developed by Japan's feudal police to arrest dangerous criminals. It is dominated by hand-to-hand movements. Orphan is only using a few moves while Oracle is using a hybrid or eclectic style of her own.)
The electrified weapons cracked and crackled against the backdrop of the ocean. Until Orphan was zapped and leapt back the battle was even. Now, she threw a batarang that Oracle dodged with ease. Before it came back she threw a gum bomb the size of an olive but it popped open with enough glue to stop a foot.
Oracle erroneously swatted the bombs to the ground and got her sticks stuck. Hitting something the size of an olive was impressive enough but they kept going. Forced to disarm she tossed a smoke bomb as if anticipating something.
Orphan swiped upward diagonally and forced Oracle into the path of the returning batarang. Scoring a strike to the back of the head, she tried to push her advantage and elbow her in the chin. Sensing that her enemy was closing in, Oracle fired her grapple, spun and used her opponent's momentum to fling Orphan into the ground outside the smoke cloud.
"Hmm," Batman thought aloud, "I could make improvements to the gauntlets."
The fight raged on but Oracle was disarmed. She was forced to try for a TKO by sticking her opponent into the ground with her gadgets. However, she was equipped with ice bombs about the size of an ole' half dollar coin before they were discontinued. Her opponent's electrified weapon was able to shatter these in the air with her sword with ease.
Keeping up the pressure she ran forward, tossing as she went, and went for a drop kick. This was met with a cross block and an easy cartwheel backwards for a little space. Two stabs and a sweep all missed Oracle but Orphan pivoted again on her foot, spinning into a throw tossing three glue balls.
Two landed.
One caught Oracle's arm to her chest while the other hit her in the belt. If she wanted to use her gadgets she'd have to get the glob off with one hand.
Oracle raised a hand in forfeit.
"Glue certainly seems to win. It can be packed into smaller pellets, has less chance of causing shock or frostbite, can't be shattered midair and slows opponents down more effectively."
Orphan immediately put her sword down, got some spray and started removing the glue. She seemed to frantically type as well, as if checking if she was okay despite her limp from being shocked earlier once the adrenaline faded. Oracle assured her of something and they fist bumped.